Women in Unexpected Places (WIUP), a new nonprofit initiative dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and girls, has launched and is focused on developing its first programmes.

The organisation was founded to address a growing global challenge: women and girls continue to face increasing barriers to safety, education, and professional opportunity, particularly in regions affected by instability.

At the same time, women remain significantly underrepresented in many of the sectors shaping the future, including science, technology, and leadership.

WIUP aims to help close this gap by supporting women and girls in moving from crisis to opportunity through education, professional pathways, and partnerships with businesses, universities, and nonprofit organisations.

Its founder is British humanitarian and technology entrepreneur Sarah Porter. She is founder of InspiredMinds!, a global artificial intelligence and emerging technology community, and also World Summit AI, an international technology summit held annually in Amsterdam with additional events in Qatar.

She has advised governments and international organisations on emerging technologies and their societal impact, including serving as an artificial intelligence policy advisor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and advising the United Nations on the use of AI in lethal autonomous weapons.

The charity will initially focus on programmes for women and girls in the UK, before expanding across borders. The charity has filed the required documentation with the UK Charity Commission as part of its formal registration process. Legal advisors Edwin Coe LLP have been appointed to support the application.

Early work on the initiative has been made possible through support from individual donors. Early fundraising secured over £115,000, and these contributions are helping lay the foundation for programmes designed to expand opportunity and support women and girls where the need is greatest.